William Nicholson (1753-21.05.1815) was an English physicist, chemist and engineer. He was born in London. He was self-taught. He was an official of the East India Company, a travelling agent, an engineer in Portsmouth and Gosport, and a writer in London. In 1786—1813 he published the “Journal of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry and the Arts”.
His research was in electricity, molecular physics and electrochemistry. He improved (1788) Bennet's doubler (Nicholson's doubler), the weighing hydrometer (1787) and the hydrometer (Nicholson's hydrometer). Together with A. Carlisle he constructed the first electric battery in England and detected the decomposition of water by a current (1800). In 1802 he discovered the luminous effect of a current.